Category: Employee Highlights

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s focus is going to be on Pot-O-Gold’s newest office employee, Stacy Verneuil. Shes only been working at Pot-O-Gold for three weeks now and she’s fitting in like a glove. Stacy’s from Ponchatoula, LA, is 26 years old, and is one of six siblings. She has two sisters and three brothers. Even with such a large family, it’s not complete without Stacy’s 4-year old son Bronson.

Everyone has their hobbies. Some of us like to play video games, some like to fish, and others just like going for a drive. Stacy enjoys swimming and four-wheeler riding. Lucky her! It’s summer in Louisiana right now, and the weather is just perfect for those activities. Ponchatoula is surrounded by rivers and they are excellent places to go four-wheeler riding and for a swim. Just watch for snakes.

Whether it’s a decadent filet mignon from your local steakhouse, fried catfish from home, or a taco from Taco Bell, everyone has their favorite food. With Stacy being a Louisiana girl, it’s no surprise that crawfish tops her list. I mean, can you blame her? The flavors that the crawfish take on from the cajun spices are incredible. The heat that’s left on your lips from all those spices is euphoric. Alas, you can’t have crawfish all year round. They go in and out of season every year just like everything else. When Stacy can’t enjoy a good crawfish boil with friends and family, she finds herself at her favorite restaurant, Rips on the Lake in Mandeville. From what I see on their menu, I may have to go myself. Their food sounds mouth-watering.

After keeping your nose to the grindstone all year long, you’re going to need a break before you break. Some years are so rough that the only thing that can help you recuperate is a perfect vacation. For Stacy, going to the mountains in the winter time would be heaven on earth. I have to say, she’s speaking my language with that one. There is just something magical about a log cabin on the side of a mountain. Sitting next to the hearth warming you feet next to the fire. Relaxing in a hot tub on the balcony overlooking the pines and snow-capped mountains. It warms the soul.

The places we most want to visit don’t always line up with our perfect vacation. If given the opportunity to visit anywhere in the world, Stacy would want to visit either Paris or Italy. One is a city, the other is a country, but both are the birthplace of some of the most amazing food the world has ever seen. She didn’t say why she wanted to go there, but I say the food is reason enough.

If given the opportunity to cast an actress to portray her in a movie, Stacy wouldn’t be able to choose. She likes so many actresses that the decision isn’t an easy one. That’s fair. Casting for a role can be quite difficult.

The alarm clock goes off at 6 am and you’re not happy with life. All you want to do is go back to sleep, but you have responsibilities. You drag yourself out of bed, throw your clothes on for the day, wake your child up and get them ready for the day. Breakfast and lost shoes make mornings a bit of a time crunch, but once you get in the car and drive off to work you have to hype yourself up for the day ahead. You connect your phone to your car and turn on your favorite jams. What do you play? Stacy plays a bit of Kelly Clarkson. Kelly does have some really catchy tunes that can definitely get your blood pumping if you’re a pop music fan. Since you’ve been gone is a classic.

We all have our unusual habits, but that’s part of what makes us human. Stacy has to make sure her TV volume is an even number. I can see how that can get pretty difficult to manage, especially if she doesn’t have 5.1 surround sound. Ever wonder why music is always so loud in a movie and the dialogue is so quite? Movie audio is always mixed in 5.1 surround sound so when it plays through stereo speakers, the audio is way off-balance.

The sound of a powerful engine can send chills up your spine. Most people’s dream cars are super cars; cars with incredibly powerful engines and some of the best engineering in the world. Stacy’s dream car is a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. What can you say? The woman’s got good taste; very expensive taste too. That’s why they call it a dream car, right?

There is a very popular saying, “Don’t meet your heroes.” This is a statement that I don’t fully agree with. Meeting someone face to face reveals character that you don’t see on camera. We all have our heroes and we want to meet them. If given the opportunity, Stacy would want to meet either Pink, Kelly Clarkson, or Adele because “they’re amazing.” I see that Stacy gets a lot of her inspiration from music.

Growing up, most of us wanted to do something exciting when we grew up. We wanted to be cops, firefighters, and astronauts, but Stacy wanted to go another route. She wanted to be a lawyer. Apparently she enjoys a good constructive argument, especially in the name of justice! I wonder if she was in the debate club in high school. Looking back, I wish I was.

Memories are some of the most powerful things in the world. They can bring up so many wonderful and powerful feelings that can overwhelm you. Everyone has that one memory that stands above the rest. Reflecting on it immediately brings a smile to your face and elation washes over you. For Stacy, that memory is when she brought her son to Disney World. I can understand why this would be her most cherished memory. The look of pure joy and excitement on her child’s face coupled with the uncontainable happiness is everything a mother could ask for.

Whether we wanted it or not, we have all had nicknames given to us. Some are endearing and others can be not-so-nice. Stacy has had two notable nicknames growing up: Little Bit and Red. I bet you can guess the origins of those names. If you guess that she’s a little red-head, you would be correct.

When I ask people what the biggest things on their bucket list are, it reveals a lot about them. Come to find out, Stacy is an adrenaline junkie. Before she kicks the bucket, she wants to go skydiving and climb Mt. Everest. You do you Booboo. Have fun.

We all have our guilty pleasures. For most people, their guilty pleasures revolve around chocolate, confections, and other sugary treats. Stacy’s on the other hand, is rather unique. She likes to go to hotels and contemplate taking their comfy pillows, but she never does it for “her life’s sake.” That one is quite unique.

Celebrity crushes are so very common. Everyone has one. Stacy’s first celebrity crush was Channing Tatum. I can see why. The man is built incredibly well and he can move. From Step Up to Magic Mike, Channing Tatum has won the hearts of almost every woman in the country.

We have all been given advice in the past, but not all of it sticks. There is however, that one piece of advice that stays with us throughout the years and has had its hand in moulding who we become. The best piece of advice Stacy has ever received was to never give up because you never know who is watching. I agree with this sentiment. Never give up and push through. Grab the bull by the horns and show it who’s boss.

First jobs are rarely fun, but we’ve all had them. Most of us started out in the food, service, or retail industries. Stacy started in food. Her first job was at Papa Johns when she was in high school. You have to do what you have to do so you can have money to go out with your friends.

Time for my favorite question. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? The reason I love this question so much is because it reveals so much about a person. Stacy would want to be able to become invisible so she could mess with people but never harm them. I can see the headlines now, “Poltergeist Prankster At Large!”

Alright guys that’s going to do it for this Meet The Staff! Stop by next time to learn more about Pot-O-Gold’s amazing, ever-growing family!

Pot-O-Gold’s best-in-class portable toilets, roll-off dumpsters, and more provide the best site service solutions for any event, construction, or DIY project. Our professional customer service team is standing by to assist you with any questions you may have regarding our products. For more information please visit our website at potogoldwaste.com or call 1-888-768-6465!

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today, our focus is going to be on Pot-O-Gold’s newest employee, Estela Alba-Gonzalez, our sales person for the Houston area. She’s only been with Pot-O-Gold for about a month now and she’s fitting in quite well with our growing family. Estela was born on August 8, 1980 and has lived in Houston all of her life. Houston seems like a fantastic place to grow up and raise a family. Speaking of family, Estela comes from a sizable one. She is one of five girls who all have families of their own. Some even have grandkids. “Family gatherings are usually loud and a bit crazy.” I can imagine. Estela has been married to her husband Jesse for almost 18 years and they have two children together: Christian, age 17 and Gabriel, age 12.

From hiking to gaming and fishing to hunting, we all have our hobbies. Estela fancies cooking, working out, and spending time with her family. Estela’s hobby of cooking is something the whole family can enjoy. I’m sure they’re grateful for that.

While we are on the topic of food, “Even though many consider me to be weird or picky about what I eat, I actually do love many kinds of food. My favorite is sushi though…and Mexican from El Toro Restaurant only. I guess it helps that they have the best mojitos too!” I have to say, Estela has good taste. Sushi and mojitos? Best food and best cocktail ever. I wont knock a good taco either.

We all have to get away from it all from time to time so we can decompress and not care about the world around us. Estela’s ideal vacation is to go to any beach with crystal clear water so she can just relax! “I got my toes in the water, *** in the sand, and not a worry in the world.” Sounds like a good time to me. There is just something about the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean the invokes peace in the mind and body.

Estela is now the focus of the newest blockbuster mocumentary. The hype train is in full locomotion and people are bursting at the seams to see it. Estela was in charge of casting the lead role for the movie. Estela’s very first choice was Sandra Bullock because, “She’s a great actress and she seems to be a bit quirky like me.” in theatres July 2020!

Waking up in the morning can be a drag. You’re tired and you lumber around the house more zombie than human. You get to the kitchen, throw on a pot of coffee, and say, “Hey Google, play my wakeup playlist.” What’s playing? For Estela, it’s a combination of country, hip hop, and Spanish music. Not my particular cup o’ tea, but if that’s what gets you going, more power too you! Turn it up to eleven and rock out.

No matter how much we criticize ourselves, we always have that one thing that we like. We all have a perception of our greatest characteristic, but sometimes it’s hard for us to focus on it for fear of feeling narcissistic. I say, “forget that!” We should focus on that one thing that makes you feel good about yourself. Estela, feels as if her best attribute is that she is genuinely a caring person. Someone who truly cares about others is becoming rarer and rarer to find in a time where people are so sucked into their own lives through social media. Don’t let go of that quality Estela! It will never be undervalued.

When confronted with the question, “What is your most unusual habit,” Estela seemed to be a bit boggled at first, not because she couldn’t thing of any, but because she had so many! She finally settled on something I think she does when she’s lost in thought. “For some reason, I tend to do this thing with my lips and make a noise. My family says I sound like a horse.”

I learned today that not everyone has a dream car. The usual answers are within the realm of Italian exotics or American muscle, but not Estela. “Oh goodness, it’s crazy because my boys LOVE cars, but I’m not a car person at all so I don’t really have a dream car. I like to be up high so as long as it’s an SUV or a truck, I’m happy.” I can’t knock a woman of simple tastes.

There is always someone who you want to meet. For most people it’s a celebrity or someone significant from history. Estela’s choice is a bit more close to the heart. She would want to meet her grandfather on her mother’s side. “Family is everything to me and he’s the only one of my grandparents who I did not get to meet.” I’m in the same boat Estela. My mom’s father passed away when she was only a girl. She tells me that he and I are so much alike that it’s scary. Apparently it’s in my mannerisms. I wonder what you do that your grandfather did.

We all had a dream job when we were younger. Most kids want to be cops, firemen, astronauts, etc. Estela wanted to shape and mold the minds of future generations. She wanted to be a teacher. This is a noble aspiration in my book. Education of America’s future generations is so very important. As we grow though, things change and our path shoots off in an unexpected direction. Now, Estela is working for Pot-O-Gold as a sales person and we are more than happy to have her in our family.

Memories. They can be some of the happiest things in the world. We all have a fond memory or two. Estela’s most fond memories are those of family gatherings. Estela really does know the importance of family. The phrase “blood is thicker than water” didn’t come from nowhere. She is trying to instill these values in her kids so they will pass them off to the next generation and beyond. It warms my heart to see these values instilled in America’s future generations.

Most people have nicknames growing up whether they like it or not. Ive had many, most of which I can’t say aloud, but the one that was most common among the females in my life was Nay-Nay. Yeah. Terrible, I know. Estela’s nickname was Coneja growing up. Coneja is spanish for rabbit. She told me not to ask why so now I REALLY want to know. All I’m picturing now are anime bunny girls. I’m sure that’s not it.

There is always one place you want to go. Your reasons my vary, but there is always someplace you would love to visit. Estela wants to visit Mykonos Island in Greece. Not a bad choice. There is a certain beauty to Mykonos Island. I wonder if this is the beach vacation that would beat all other beach vacations for Estela. Hmm.

We all have some things we want to do before we die. Some people’s bucket lists span miles long while others may only have three things on them. Estela just wants to travel. Travel travel travel. Seeing the world is an aspiration of many and for good reason.

We all have our guilty pleasures. Most guilty pleasures usually revolve around food. Estela’s is no different. Estela loves nut butter. “I like to just get a spoon and eat away. Give me all the almond, peanut, coconut, cashew, and pecan butter!” Hey guys, Estela like nut butter. Really likes it apparently. Next time I’m in Channelview, TX, I know what to bring as a care package.

We all have had our celebrity crushes and some still do. Estela’s first celebrity crush was Mario Lopez. He was a good looking dude back in the day. With his boyish good looks, many women…and men… swooned over him.

Words of wisdom should never go unappreciated. We all recieve good advice throughout our lives. The best piece of advice that Estela ever received was one we all were told, but few seem to adhere to. “Treat others the way you wish to be treated.” This is something that I live by life by and I’m happy to see that it’s the case with Estela.

Finally, Our first jobs are never really great. It’s generally in retail or food service. The hours suck, the pay sucks, and all you do from the moment you wake is count down the time until you get off work. Exciting, I know, but we all go through it. Estela’s first job was at Academy. Working is retail is never fun, but someone has got to do the job. Estela stepped up to the plate!

Sorry folk, no “super power” answer this time. Maybe she doesn’t want a super power, and she likes the way that she is. There is nothing wrong with that.

Alright guys that’s going to do it for this Meet The Staff! Stop by next time to learn more about Pot-O-Gold’s amazing, evergrowing family!

Pot-O-Gold’s best-in-class portable toilets, roll-off dumpsters, and more provide the best site service solutions for any event, construction, or DIY project. Our professional customer service team is standing by to assist you with any questions you may have regarding our products. For more information please visit our website at potogoldwaste.com or call 1-888-768-6465!

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s focus is on Daniel Atkins, a pick up a delivery driver that’s been with us for about a year now. “I came from a GM position for U-Haul, and now I love toilets.” Daniel was born April 1, 1974, is from El Paso, TX, and now currently resideds in Houston. Daniel is “married with 2 brat kids.” In his free time, Daniel enjoys “golf, working out, and golf.” I think it’s safe to say that he likes golf! What do you think ladies and gentlemen? He also like to go to Buffalo Wild Wings, order a chickwrap or burgers with “wild sauce,” and chow down. Daniel’s ideal vacation is going to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. I hear Kauai is beautiful. If Daniel could play any role in a movie, he would want to play Ben Affleck’s batman “because it’s batman.” I like this man’s logic although im more of a fan of Bale’s batman, but to each their own! We all know that mornings are terrible. We are tired, sluggish, and short tempered. What better way to start your day than with some heavy metal? Daniel knows this. I know this. Alright! Daniel’s best attribute is the fact that he can relate to anyone he meets. That is a wonderful trait to have. His most unusual habit is that he douses everything he eats in hot sauce. I’ve heard of worse habits. If he could have any car he would want a ’67 mustang! This man knows you cant beat classic American muscle. If Daniel could meet one person, he would have wanted to meet Billy the Kid to pick his brain. “I want to see how his mind works. I wonder what he was thinking about. I wonder how he really was.” Something that most people don’t know about Daniel is that he is “good at most sports…except golf.” When Daniel was younger, he wanted to be an architect. That seems like it would be a wonderful profession. Daniel’s most fond memory is “of my dad falling down drunk and laughing with my step father before they both died of cancer.” Funny memories of your late loved ones are always good ones to hold onto. Daniel’s nickname is Danny boy. I wonder if the pipes are falling. If Daniel could visit one place in the world, he would want to go to Greece. The top 3 things on his bucketlist are going to Kauai, Greece, and going on a date with Salma Hayek. I can’t blame him for his 3rd wish. Salma is a stunning beautiful woman. Chocolate chip cookies is this man’s guilty pleasure. Gotta love chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmmm. His first celebrety crush was Lori Loughlin from Full House. The best piece of advice he ever received was to not worry about what others think about you. Those are some of the greatest words to live by. Daniel’s first job was at Pizza Hut. Finally, if he could have one superpower…well… “To quote Batman when the Flash asked him what superpowers he has…”I’m Rich.””

That does it for this week’s Meet The Staff. Stop by next week to learn more about our wonderful staff!

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s focus is on Laurie Ramsey, Our newest customer service representative. She has been with us since July 2017. “Every day is a new day.” Laurie was born August 3, 1969 and is from New Orleans. She has been married for 20 years to her amazing husband Everett with whom she has 2 beautiful children; a daughter whom is in college and a son whom is a junior in high school. She also has pup named Rusty.

In her free time, Laurie enjoys cooking, reading and traveling. Come chow time, she enjoys sushi and Thai food. “I love trying new foods.” Laurie’s ideal vacation would be to travel through the romantic cities of Europe. Venice, Italy, Paris, France, etc. are quite beautiful. If Laurie could have anyone play her in a movie, she would have Jodie Foster play the role. “Jodie Foster is an all time amazing actress. She can play all sides.” To get ready for the day, Laurie likes to jam to alternative rock. Red Hot Chili Peppers really gets her moving! She feels that her dependability and trustworthiness are her best attributes. “If you are in need of anything, I will be there to help.” Laurie’s most unusual habit is that she lays her son’s clothes out the night before in a certain order. If she could any car, she would want a convertable Jaguar. Not a bad choice. If Laurie could meet anyone, she would want to meet President Donald Trump. “I would lke to meet him and ask him tons of questions about his power in office.” Growing up, Laurie wanted to be a fashion designer. Perhaps we could have seen Laurie on the racks near Coco Chanel, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood, and Donatella Versace! Laurie’s most fond memory is when her husband asked her to marry him in front of 500 other people which embarassed her to death. Sounds like a beautiful and sweet memory. When she was younger, Laurie’s grandfather called her Tootiebell. Cute little nickname. I wonder if I should spread that around the office to get the rest of the staff calling her that. If she could visit any place in the world, Laurie would love to visit Alaska. Alaska is quite beautiful. The three biggest things on her bucket list are going to Alaska, white water rafting, and meeting the pope. Laurie’s big guilty pleasure is dark chocolate. Pair that with raspberry and you’ve got the most delectable treat on the planet. Her very first celebrity crush was Scott Baio. The best piece of advice Laurie has ever received was from her dad. “Do not ever give up and be the best you can be.” Laurie’s first job was a file clerk at an oil and gas company in high school. Finally, if she could have one super power, Laurie would want to have Telepathy or the ability to teleport. I would take teleportation. No car note. No car insurance. Sounds wonderful.

That’s it for this week’s Meet The Staff! Stop by next week to meet more of our wonderful staff!

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s focus will be on one of Pot-O-Gold‘s newest members, Toby Martin. Toby was born Feb 4, 1988 and is from San Angelo, TX. He has been working for Pot-O-Gold as a pump truck driver for about 4 months, but he has been a pump truck driver for about two and a half years working for other companies. Toby was raised by his grandparents and is now married to his beautiful wife and became a stepfather to his 2 wonderful daughters. When he has the time, Toby likes to visit different beaches with his wife. Idealy, one day he would love to visit the beaches of the Caribbean Islands. On game day, Toby likes to watch the Dallas Cowboys play.

Now for some interesting factoids!

If an actor were to play Toby in a movie, he would like to cast Mark Whalberg to play the role because “he’s a good actor and one of my favorites.” Heavy Metal gets Toby motivated in the morning. There is nothing quite like some Metallica or Pantera to get your blood pumping in the morning! To wind down, Toby turns on some country music. His best attribute is his work ethic. He works hard and is dedicated to anything he sets his mind to. We need more people in the world like Toby. His most unusual habit is the he “vapes all day, every day.” #vapenation His dream car is a lamborghini. There is nothing quite like the sound of a lambo is there? If Toby could meet any person, he would meet Eminem because he relates to him and he sees him as a good person. One of the most special things about Toby is that he is extremely loyal. When growing up, Toby wanted to be a rock star. I think we have all had this dream. Standing on stage with thousands of people in the audience cheering you on. You’re back to back with Joe Satriani, shredding amazing dual guitar solos that just blow the roof off of the venue. Yea…Toby’s most fond memory is his wedding. It was there that he married the love of his life and it was the last time he saw his grandmother before she passed away. If given the choice to visit anywhere in the word, Toby would like to visit the Bahamas. You can tell that this man really loves the sand between his toes and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. The smell of the sea is just intoxicating. Toby’s big bucketlist items are to own a lambo, to drive a nascar or any car that goes over 200mph, and to hang out with the Dallas Cowboys. His guilty pleasure is ice cream! He tends to eat way too much, but who can blame him. It’s so tasty! His first celebrity crush was Pamela Anderson. I have a feeling Toby used to watch a lot of Baywatch when he was younger. The best piece of advice Toby has ever received is “Always trust in our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and give faith a fighting chance.” His grandparents wrote that in the first bible they bought him. Toby’s first job was working at a fast food restaurant called Best Fried Chicken. At least it wasn’t at Los Pollos Hermanos. To bring things to an end, if Toby could have one superpower, he would love to have the power of invisibility.

Thank you for reading this weeks Meet The Staff. We will be back next friday with another!

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s focus is on Daniel Pacheco, a nine month long Pot-O-Gold employee. I like to call 9 month long employees POG babies…because you know…babies take 9 months in the oven…yeah…bad joke. ANYHOW! Daniel was born August 9, 1978 and is from Denver, Co and Waxahachie, Tx. Daniel is a single father of six beautiful children. He is definitely a family man, and as a family man, his ideal vacation would to be to go visit his family in Denver! In Daniel’s free time, he enjoys playing video games (easily my favorite pastime) and playing with his kids. When it comes to food, he enjoys Chinese and Mexican.

Now for a little bit of Q & A!

What actor would you want to play you in a movie?

Al Pacino

What music get you motivated for the day?

Rock / Country

What do you feel is your best attribute?

Hard working and loyal

What is you most unusual habit?

I’m a clean freak

If you could have any car, what would it be?

I want a BMW MS

If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Al Pachino because he is a good person and actor

What is something special about you most people don’t know?

I have a bit heart.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted to be a pilot.

What is one of you most fond memories?

My children being born.

Have you ever had a nickname?

Yes, Checo.

If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go?

Russia

What three things would you put on your bucket list?

Skydiving, driving a nascar, flying a plane.

What is one guilty pleasure you have?

chocolate

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Emma Stone (this man has a great taste in women)

What was the best piece of advice you ever received?

Men want respect and women want to be loved, so men must love to get respect from a woman.

Welcome back to Meet The Staff! Today’s subject is Norman Collins Jr, a gentleman who has been a pump truck driver for Pot-O-Gold since November 2016. Norman was born February 5, 1971, is from Baton Rouge, La, and has 3 children with his beautiful wife. In his free time he likes to make music; a fantastic hobby if I do say so myself. Norman is a lover of fine surf n’ turf. His favorite is steak and shrimp from Ruth’s Chris Steak House. opulence! His Ideal vacation would be an all-inclusive trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Now for some Q and A!

What actor would you want to play you in a movie?

Boris Kodjoe. People said that we looked alike

What music gets you motivated for the day?

Any kind.

What do you feel is your best attribute?

I try to be a good listener.

What is your most unusual habit?

eating sunflower seeds.

If you could have any car, what would it be?

It would be a full-sized Denali.

If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Tupac. Very smart person and seemed like he would be fun to hang around.

What is something special about you most people don’t know?

That I used to act.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A professional basketball player.

What is one of you most fond memories?

The day my wife and i got married.

Have you ever had a nickname?

yes i did.

If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go?

Rome (Vatican)

What three things would you put on your bucket list?

Trip to Rome, Visiting Medjegoria, and traveling to Australia.

What is one guilty pleasure you have?

Not knowing when to stop eating shrimp.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Nia Long.

What was the best piece of advice you ever received?

You can’t change what has been done so accept it and make the best of it.

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Pot-O-Gold

With over 30 years of experience
in the industry, Pot-O-Gold has grown to be the Gulf South’s premier portable restroom and roll off dumpster rental company. Pot-O-Gold provides on-site delivery and waste-hauling services to construction sites, commercial developments, special events, and industrial facilities, and has offices from Houston to Pensacola.